It’s hard to believe that my time as your Vice President of Advocacy is coming to an end—where did the last two years go? I won’t lie; it was a challenge at times. I came into this role with big goals and a plan to achieve them, and, like many plans, it was promptly derailed. However, our team adapted, and I leave this role filled with immense gratitude and pride.

One of my biggest goals during this term was to strengthen our national legislative outreach and return BPW to its legacy of advocating for meaningful change.

The 2024–2026 term began with a campaign to push for the Equal Rights Amendment before Biden left office, and we got results! The day before leaving office, Biden declared the ERA the law of the land—a major victory for ERA advocates. While the current status of the ERA remains uncertain, I like to think our efforts helped contribute to that moment. Unfortunately, the political climate following the 2024 election made legislative advocacy increasingly difficult, particularly for social justice and women’s rights organizations.

As someone passionate about public policy, that reality has been frustrating. One of the most inspiring moments in BPW history for me is BPW/USA’s National President Dr. Minnie Miles standing beside JFK as he signed the Equal Pay Act. In recognition of our organization’s leading role in securing passage of the act, President Kennedy gave the first pen he signed with to her. What a legacy!

As your Vice President of Advocacy, I wanted to help revive that spirit. To support that goal, we launched a national bill screening team and developed resources for chapters interested in creating their own on a local level. Special thanks to the California and Colorado bill screening teams for sharing their expertise.

I am also proud to have saved the organization more than $3,000 annually by transitioning our digital advocacy platform from One Click Politics to New/ Mode, a comparable service offered at no cost. While concerns about legislative advocacy and our 501(c)(3) status limited its use this term, I hope future leaders will take advantage of this resource.

Our largest undertaking, and the legacy I hope to be remembered for most, is the Advocacy Hub.

I wanted our advocacy platform to be more than a list of positions adopted every biennium. Together, the Advocacy Committee built a new section of the website filled with information, resources, and tools tied directly to our platform priorities. It was truly a labor of love, and I look forward to continuing to build and expand it in the months ahead.

While this term did not unfold as I expected, I am deeply proud of what we accomplished and grateful for the dedicated advocates who served on the Advocacy Committee.

Looking ahead, I have full faith in whoever becomes the next leader of this team and look forward to seeing where she takes us. I hope she continues building on the foundation we laid during the 2024–2026 term.

As for me, I will continue contributing to the future of BPW through support on the Advocacy Committee and serving BPW International as a UN Representative. In that role, I also represent BPW on the board of the NGO Commission on the Status of Women/NY and help keep our members informed about developments regarding the UN, CSW, and UN Women.

Thank you for placing your trust in me and electing me to this role. It has been an honor to serve, and I hope I have served you well.

Wishing you all the best in the upcoming biennium.

Emily VanVleck
National VP Advocacy
2024-2026
vpadvocacy@nfbpwc.org